The Mac Console

The rumour mill has started to turn again with the news last week that Apple had patented a new multi-player system. This coupled with the patent of a wireless controller has got peoples tongues wagging as to what possibly Apple could be up to. Game Centre improvements? Or are they developing a console? Let’s work on the assumption of the latter, seeing as I wrote a lengthy how to improve Game Centre post last month.

These are my ideas of what I believe could give Apple a stable platform to build from.

Physical

The machine will be based off the Mac Mini design. I chose this design as people like to play games in their living rooms and the Mac Mini has a sleek and stylish look to it which would fit well in living rooms without taking up space.

The chassis would have to be made slightly larger to allow for more ventilation for quicker cooling of the CPU and GPU. Ventilation grills would have to be placed at the sides of the chassis and one small vent on top of the unit. This would take away from the Apple trait of smooth edges and faces but in this case it’s a matter of performance over aesthetics for me.

Technology

The system would have an Intel CPU with an AMD GPU as I have found these to be the most used GPU’s for more powerful Mac devices. Structurally the machine is based off the 2012 Mac Mini and an iMac mid 2011 machine.

Intel i5 Quad Core 2.5GHz CPU

8GB RAM

AMD Radeon HD 8690M GPU

1TB 5400RPM HDD

Bluetooth & Wireless N

10/100/1000 Ethernet port

HDMI output

Apple TV should be integrated in to the design as every console these days can act as an entertainment hub. Apple already has a strong foothold here with the impressive Apple TV, it only makes sense to build this into the design. This would also still allow you to stream gameplay/video from your iOS devices a feature which has been implemented into recent versions of Apple TV.

The patent of a wireless controller in June last year clearly shows connectivity with iOS devices and potentially Apple TV. If this is the case then there is no reason why the controller could not be implemented to work on a console.

OS

Technical speaking the system would be built very much the same as a Mac Mini would with a stream lined OS removing features from the operating system which would not be applicable to consoles. Safari would be a good application to keep as internet browsing from consoles is becoming more popular.

Digital Distribution

I have purposely chosen not to include a disk drive due to Apple already having a stable digital distribution platform with the App Store. I don’t really see any reasons to change this as Game Centre will act as the in game client.

Multiplayer

Game Centre in its current form is very limited, but it has huge potential as to what it could achieve. As stated at the start Apple last week patented a new multilayer system with the key feature being Face Time integrated into the service. It doesn’t stop there though with communication with other iOS devices. So theoretically you could be riding the bus to work whilst your buddies are gaming and you could be chatting to them. It all sounds very exciting to us.

Final Word

So there you have it. We have laid out our ideas as to WE would like to see out of Apple console. We understand the system might appear light on the graphical capabilities, but the GPU we chose is for laptop based technology.

Granted it wouldn’t be the most powerful console on the market, but with the Apple name behind it and the technical development team Apple had it could certainly be future proofed.

What do you want to see out of a console if Apple were to develop one? Make yourself heard in the comments section.

This article comes from Resident Author Mark Gregory. You can find him on Tumblr.

I say go for it. Just make sure it’s as powerful or more then the next gen consoles. And if you are try and get it notice before the next gen release. I feel if you wait to long to get it notice or out by the release of the others it might be to late. By letting the next gen console setting in the market I don’t think people would by a brand new console in the console, but with Apples name being so big it should have a great advantage to success.
I probably would buy one let just see what it’s made of.

Mark Gregory

The potential it could have being an entertainment hub and iOS streaming (Apple TV) excites me also. It really could be a jack of all trades and do everything.

Daaquan Ortiz

*in the console war, but…

Marc W

I do not thinks this will happen. Apple is not able to “revolutionize” this market as Sony and M$ are really innovative here.
But if you look at it as a “pimped” Apple-TV it makes sense. Why not play on AppleTV. Controller support is very important here. If they get out their own controller and make it work with iPad, Mac, iPhone and AppleTV as a standard… that would be hillarious.

http://www.macgamerhq.com/ MGregory666

I’d buy into that. A better MP system would be a must also. I am purchasing Apple TV this weekend with the influx of quality iOS coming soon KOTOR, Xcom and Warhammer.

http://smoke.livejournal.com/ Smoke Tetsu

If they did make a console I bet it’d be iOS based and not Mac based sadly enough. At one time the AppleTV was OS X based but they moved that to iOS even.